You’ve just installed a new PCI-based network adapter into your file server. When you start Windows, however, the adapter does not appear in the Device Manager. Which of these would be the best troubleshooting task to do next?
A) Confirm that the BIOS supports PCI-based network adapters
B) Confirm that the adapter is well seated in the PCI slot
C) Check the wattage of your power supply
D) Install an updated adapter driver
E) Consider renting a hydraulic press
The answer: B) Confirm that the adapter is well seated in the PCI slot
If an adapter card isn’t seen by the operating system, it probably isn’t seen by the motherboard either. The Windows OS will always identify a new PnP adapter card, even if Windows doesn’t currently have the proper driver. The easiest checks should always be done first, and not fully seating an adapter card is an easy thing to check.
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Want to know more? Watch “Installing and Configuring Adapter Cards.”The modularity of adapter cards has provided us with an infinite number of expansion options for our PCs. In this video, you’ll learn the basics of adapter card installation and the fundamentals of device driver installation. |